Category: Wildlife

Goldfinch

Late Winter Mallard Estimates Remain Lowest in 15 Years

In the final aerial survey of the 2023-24 waterfowl season, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologists estimated a Delta mallard population that was more than a half-million mallards below the 2009-2024 late January long-term average and the lowest late January survey estimate on record since the 2010 start of transect-based surveys. Also, total duck population estimates were nearly 480,000 birds below the long-term average, largely due to the low number of mallards.

On average, mallards account for about 55 percent of all ducks in the Delta during late January surveys. During this survey period, however, mallards made up only 33 percent of the total duck estimate. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

The Taxman Lurks Behind Government Giveaways

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

We Michiganders love our parks – both state and local.  In addition, we also enjoy those fishing piers and boat ramps that allow outdoors-minded individuals opportunities to get out on our magnificent waterways of the Great Lakes systems.  To fund these public facilities’ associated expenses takes a lot of tax dollars beyond user fees.   Here, we’ll review two of the funding mechanisms employed and their stark differences.

First, to fund conservation efforts of our waterways, the Sport Fish Restoration Act authorizes a federal excise tax on certain items: 10 percent on fishing equipment; 3 percent tax on electric boat motors, tackle and fly boxes; import duties on tackle, pleasure boats and yachts; and a portion of the federal gas tax that is attributable to motorboats and small engines. Since 1952, these excise taxes have contributed and distributed more than $11.3 billion to individual states.

Michigan’s share of distributions in year 2023 was $12,913,189 and has been at least $10 million for last 16 years.  Kathy Hollar, Division Manager, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, explained it this way:   “Our industry manufacturers are vitally important to the Sportfish Restoration Program. Without their federal excise tax contributions, we wouldn’t have had seven decades of fish restoration and boating access projects across the country for all of America to enjoy.”

Contributions is a cleverly disguised term for the reality of extractions. This hidden tax, however, is not, in effect, paid by anyone other than us consumers with costs of goods and services inflated to cover the built-in taxes.  They’re not seen, but certainly felt.  With that said, at least the money has been raised in advance of any project expenses.

Compare that pre-paid method with federal grants such the Biden Administration’s American Rescue Plan passed in 2021, whereby the federal government provided Michigan with $6.5 billion termed flexible state fiscal recovery funds.  Of that total, Michigan’s DNR has been appropriated $498 million with 89 percent dedicated to local and state parks’ trails and infrastructure.  Wow!  That’s a tremendous infusion of cash for upgrades – and, heartaches down the road; it’s all part of a borrowing mindset.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, annual interest payments on America’s debt will reach $1.6 trillion by year 2034 and will continue to grow from there. By comparison, interest costs on the nation’s debt were $879 billion in fiscal year 2023 and recent increases in interest rates are poised to exacerbate the issue.

And, that’s merely the interest on the roughly 34 trillion-dollar debt that continues its upward spiral to future generations’ ultimate despair.   To put this incomprehensible figure into perspective, it works out to over $100 million per hour right now!

The elephant in the room that nobody has been willing to acknowledge amid the hoopla of government “giveaways” is the perpetual increase of taxation on current and future citizens.  Yes, our officials have perfected the art of can kicking.

Since politicians have no control over spending and borrowing, it appears the Beatles had it right all along with lyrics from their song Taxman and what it portends for us all:

If you drive a car, car, I’ll tax the street
If you try to sit, sit, I’ll tax your seat
If you get too cold, cold I’ll tax the heat
If you take a walk, walk,  I’ll tax your feet
Should 5 percent appear too small, be thankful I don’t take it all.

Fishing, Hunting, Wildlife

Modifications to Great Salt Lake Causeway Berm Benefiting Brine Shrimp

Last year, the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands — in partnership with the Utah Division of Water Resources and Union Pacific Railroad — modified the causeway berm that separates the northern and southern areas of the Great Salt Lake in an effort to address salinity issues, and the change is already benefiting the lake’s brine shrimp.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources manages the brine shrimp and the harvest of their eggs (called cysts) in the Great Salt Lake to help balance a unique ecosystem. Brine shrimp are small crustaceans that inhabit salty waters around the world, both inland and on the coast. Ranging from a third- to half-inch in size, these shrimp are much smaller than the ones you eat. Read more

Fishing, Wildlife

Some Closures in Place for Michigan State Parks

It’s an exciting time for our state parks and we can’t wait for you to see the end results and the consequential bill to be paid by your grandchildren.

Thanks to a massive $250 million investment made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act, many Michigan state parks, trails and other outdoor spaces are receiving some much-needed TLC. New roads and parking lots, upgraded electrical and water systems, new accessible toilet buildings, new water jug fillers and trail enhancements are just a few examples of the type of monumental work taking place across the state.

While some locations will temporarily close for improvements, most remain open for your next outdoor adventure. If your favorite park is getting a facelift as part of these important investments, consider trying out a different spot and explore a new-to-you destination!

For the latest information on DNR trail and other facility closures, please visit Michigan.gov/DNRClosures. The information is updated almost daily.

Wildlife

Tune in for a ‘WildTail’ on YouTube

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, in partnership with the National Deer Association and the Southeast Deer Partnership, is proud to announce the release of “Wildtail: America’s Wildest Conservation Success Story,” a new documentary focused on the role of white-tailed deer to the economy and conservation community. The feature-length documentary, now available on YouTube, takes viewers on the incredible journey of white-tailed deer from near extinction back to an ecological and economic hero of America’s native landscapes.

The video, which is narrated by country music star Dustin Lynch and features a host of wildlife biologists as well as Steve Rinella from MeatEater, debuted just before deer season last year and was available in limited screenings and through paid channels until last week. Now all nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts can watch the film for free. Read more

Wildlife

Smith River Permit Application Deadline is February 14

Changes in place for 2024 float season

The deadline for Smith River float applications is Wednesday, Feb. 14. The permit drawing will be held on Feb. 22. Permits are required to float the 59-mile section of river between Camp Baker and Eden Bridge and are issued each year through a lottery.

To apply for a Smith River float permit online, go to the FWP Online Licensing System. A $15 nonrefundable permit application fee is required. Successful Smith River applicants will be notified via email shortly after the lottery drawing is conducted.

This year is the first time applicants can buy a bonus point for the Smith River Permit. A bonus point is essentially an extra chance you can purchase for the permit drawing. These points accumulate year after year if you are unsuccessful in the drawing. Residents can purchase a bonus point for $5; nonresidents can purchase a bonus point for $50. The bonus point is applied to your application the year it is purchased. You can apply for a permit through FWP’s Online Licensing System.. Read more

Fishing, Wildlife

Ruger Sponsors LIVinOutdoors

“Homesteading is: Being self-sufficient, living simply, getting back to our roots, breaking away from commercialism, growing your own food.”

If the last 4 years has taught us anything, it’s that it is crucial to be self-sufficient and to stand boldly in our convictions about what is right for our families. LIVinOutdoors, the newest outdoor lifestyle show presented by Ruger®, the arms maker for responsible citizens®, and Jen O’Hara, co-founder of the iconic outdoor fashion line Girls with Guns Clothing®. It focuses on the adventures of an armed American Momma on her quest to teach her daughters what it means to truly live off of the land.

Episode 1 of LIVinOutdoors is now streaming on CarbonTV with a new episode dropping every month. Each episode of LIVinOutdoors follows Jen and her family, including her two daughters, 4 year old Olivia, “Liv” the inspiration behind naming LIVinOutdoors, and 20 month old Chloe, as they tackle everyday living in rural Northern California. From homesteading to homeschooling, the O’Hara’s do it all – while armed and in style. Catch them in the garden, harvesting homegrown veggies, or in the kitchen, canning their crops and cooking up wild game. Hop in the side by side with Jen and the girls while they explore their property, feeding animals, checking trail cameras, and enjoying the beautiful Northern California sunshine. Traditional family values and a strong faith in God guide the O’Hara family in all that they do, and they are excited to share the ins and outs of their daily life through LIVinOutdoors. Read more

Wildlife

New Potential World’s Record Roosevelt’s Elk Entered into Boone and Crockett Club Big Game Records

The records department of the Boone and Crockett Club recently received a Roosevelt’s elk entry, which, if confirmed by a judges panel, will be crowned the new world’s record.

The recent entry was killed by Timothy Carpenter on September 21, 2023, in Humboldt County, California. With a preliminary score of 439 7/8 points, Carpenter’s elk smashes the previous world’s record of 419 6/8 points taken by Rick Bailey in British Columbia in 2015. No stranger to big elk, Carpenter has multiple Roosevelt’s elk in the records, including a 2011 bull that scored 398 1/8, which is the current archery world’s record.

Carpenter, 39, splits his work between guiding elk hunters in the fall and working as a wildlife biologist in the spring. He rarely gets a day to hunt for himself, but he is able to get out in the field often. “It is very rewarding to be part of any successful Roosevelt’s elk hunt,” Carpenter says. “It is that much more rewarding when we are able to take animals that are mature—or even past their prime—and are Boone and Crockett animals.”

All that time spent guiding and working with wildlife lets him take advantage of the limited amount of time he has by learning the area, meeting the landowners, and keeping an eye on the animals. He estimates the bull was around 11 or 12 years old. Carpenter aged the meat for two weeks in a cooler, and those elk steaks have made many delicious meals, he says. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

February NRC Preview for Michigan

By Justin Tomei | February 5, 2024
“…close coyote season from April 15 to July 15.”  GW:  Hold the NRC’s feet to the fire relative to scientific rationale.
Sound scientific management could be tested at the Natural Resources Commission (NRC), as information presented at the February meeting will be up for action in March.

The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 8 at 9:30 a.m. at Lansing Community College West Campus, 5708 Cornerstone Drive.

Wildlife Conservation Order #1 of 2024 sets furbearer regulations for the 2024-2026 regulatory cycle. The order has multiple positive changes, generally expanding opportunities with no biological impact, which Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) supports.

One significant change that commissioners will consider is whether to close coyote season from April 15 to July 15.

MUCC opposes this change per a 2005 resolution stating: “Urge the MDNR to allow for the year-round taking of coyote and establish year-round, safe methods and areas of coyote hunting and trapping in urban state parks and recreation areas.”

A Michigan Department of Natural Resources memo accompanying the order states that this proposed change is not biological and that moving to a year-round season in 2016 had no significant biological impact on coyotes.

“Since the coyote hunting season was extended year-round, statewide harvest estimates and average number of coyotes harvested per hunter have not increased,” the DNR memo reads.

In 1996, the conservation community united behind the idea that political pressures should not influence our game management decisions. The voters of Michigan agreed, passing Proposal G.

Proposal G requires commissioners to use principles of sound scientific management when making wildlife management decisions. MUCC believes this order is not sound scientific management, said MUCC Policy and Government Affairs Manager Justin Tomei.

“Michiganders spoke loudly when they passed Proposal G in 1996 in favor of scientific wildlife management,” Tomei said. “Proposal G was meant to shield natural resources from politics. Acquiescing to social pressures will start a long downward spiral – one we can’t afford to go down as hunters.”

MUCC’s grassroots membership is considering a new policy in March that would confirm and bolster the organization’s stance on year-round coyote hunting.

The Department of Natural Resources remains neutral in the memo, only taking a position to retain the prohibition on hunting or training dogs on coyotes from April 16 to July 7, a position MUCC shares.

The precedent this order could set will have far-reaching consequences, Tomei said.

“The anti-conservationist assault will never stop. They want to see our outdoor heritage and way of life dismantled bit by bit until there is nothing left,” Tomei said. “We, as conservationists, need to stick to our science-based principles even in uncomfortable situations. The science speaks for itself.” Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Michigan’s Deer Dilemma: DNR is all Ears

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

Management of Michigan’s deer herd will require changes, if ever we are to achieve a workable balance between the animals we cherish and our populace.  Whether a hunter or non-hunter, our livelihoods will be affected by managerial decisions aimed at solving the issue of over-population in the southern portion of the state and a lack of deer in the far north regions.

The good news is that our DNR is seeking input from anyone interested in submitting thoughts on topics for consideration for the new Deer Management Initiative groups charged with improvement by simply emailing DNR-Wildlife@Michigan.gov, including the term “DMI” in the subject line.

Everyone is affected when vehicles meet deer.  State Farm Insurance indicates the average cost per deer collision has grown over $5,000 nationally.  Our vehicle insurance costs rank at or near the top of the country narrowly behind only Louisiana and New York.  Michigan is second nationally in terms of highest claims counts with 133,636 from July 2022 to June 2023.

One of the contributing factors is our penchant to hunt for any legal buck.  For years Michigan hunters certainly do take a lot of bucks, as evidenced by its standing behind only Texas in sheer numbers.  At the same time, however, we take so many yearling bucks – those 1.5 years of age – they are not allowed to grow up.

When we compare the Boone & Crockett’s top states for totals of record typical and non-typical bucks produced, the figures demonstrate our weakness.  Of the top 12 states for whitetail submissions, Michigan is dead last and woefully so.  Wisconsin tops the list at 1770 followed by Illinois (1405), Iowa (1,291), Minnesota (1,168), Kentucky (1,009), Ohio (977), Missouri (851), Kansas (828), Indiana (739), Texas (731), Nebraska (349), Michigan (296).

Whitetails need three things to achieve record status: age, nutrition and genetics (in that order) and we miss the mark based on age.  So, instead of killing adolescent bucks, why not take does instead?

Our hunting population continues its downward spiral of approximately 2 percent per year, with no signs of improvement.  The older generation is aging out, while younger hunters are not coming forward.  We’ve made it easier to get youths involved in hunting over the years but the efforts haven’t resulted in enough of an impact.

In the state of Michigan, hunters born on or after January 1, 1960, are required to successfully complete an approved hunter education course.

Anyone ages 10 and older can be a part of the hunting experience by purchasing a base apprentice (APC) license. The base apprentice license, which can be purchased for two license years before needing to complete a hunter safety course, allows anyone to hunt small game and purchase licenses to hunt other species like deer and turkey.

With that said, I’ll be sending in another idea to the DNR to help with youth recruitment.  I’d like to see the Field Day requirement to gain a certificate to be administered by a licensed adult, as an option to attending the current formal Field-Day session.  The same class could be conducted on one’s private land instead, but only after an individual has passed the classroom course – either online or in person.

This suggestion, along with myriad others to be submitted, is meant to begin a conversation and that’s the intent of the DNR’s invitation to participate in the hunting model of the future.  There is no silver bullet, but with input from concerned citizens, we can all have a voice at the table.

Hunting, Wildlife
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